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192
The House in Good Taste
·
Elsie De Wolfe
13
How
can
we
develop
taste?
Some
of
us,
alas,
can
never
develop
it,
because
we
can
never
let
go
of
shams.
We
must
learn
to
recognize
suitability,
simplicity
and
proportion,
and
apply
our
knowledge
to
our
needs.
I
grant
you
we
may
never
fully
appreciate
the
full
balance
of
proportion,
but
we
can
exert
our
common
sense
and
decide
whether
a
thing
is
suitable;
we
can
consult
our
conscience
as
to
whether
an
object
is
simple,
and
we
can
train
our
eyes
to
recognize
good
and
bad
proportion.
A
technical
knowledge
of
architecture
is
not
necessary
to
know
that
a
huge
stuffed
leather
chair
in
a
tiny
gold
and
cream
room
is
unsuitable,
is
hideously
complicated,
and
is
as
much
out
of
proportion
as
the
proverbial
bull
in
the
china-shop.
A
woman's
environment
will
speak
for
her
life,
whether
she
likes
it
or
not.
How
can
we
believe
that
a
woman
of
sincerity
of
purpose
will
hang
fake
"works
of
art"
on
her
walls,
or
satisfy
herself
with
imitation
velvets
or
silks?
How
can
we
attribute
taste
to
a
woman
who
permits
paper
floors
and
iron
ceilings
in
her
house?
We
are
too
afraid
of
the
restful
commonplaces,
and
yet
if
we
live
simple
lives,
why
shouldn't
we
be
glad
our
houses
are
comfortably
commonplace?
How
much
better
to
have
plain
furniture
that
is
comfortable,
simple
chintzes
printed
from
old
blocks,
a
few
good
prints,
than
all
the
sham
things
in
the
world?
A
house
is
a
dead-give-away,
anyhow,
so
you
should
arrange
is
so
that
the
person
who
sees
your
personality
in
it
will
be
reassured,
not
disconcerted.
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
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Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
